Printer&#39;s line-up table



Oct. 16, 1934. J. A. SLOBEY PRINTERS LINE-UP TABLE Filed Oct. 5. 1929 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 16, 1934. J. A. SLOBEY PRINTERS LINE-UP TABLE FiledOct. 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE v J. A. SLOBEY PRINTER LINE-UPTABLE Filed 001;. 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR Oct. 16, 1934. J.A. SLOBEY PRINTERS LINE-UP TABLE Filed Oct. 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4Oct. 16, 1934. J. A. SLOBEY 1,977,213

PRINTER S LINE-UP TABLE Filed Oct. 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 PatentedOct. 16, 1934 PTET rice PRHNTERS Line-Ur TABLE Joseph A. Slobey,Lyndhurst, N. J., assignor to Craftsman Line-Up Table Corporation,Waltham, Mass, a corperation of Massachusetts Application Gctober 5,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus of the character usually referred toas printers line-up tables. These tables usually include a table topwith two straight edges mounted to move across 51 said top at rightangles to each other.

Such tables are used in connection with a great variety of printingwork. For example, in multicolor printing it is necessary to make aseries of plates, each designed to apply color to a given 'ml portion ofthe printed surface, and an exceedingly accurate registration of theplates must be obtained in order to produce satisfactory results. Thisrequires both an accurate initial positioning of the plates and achecking up of the results jafter the proof sheets have been made inorder to determine whether the registration has been disturbed byexpansion or contraction of the paper or its distortion during theprinting process. This work is customarily done on a line-up table. 1Such tables are also used extensively in preparing the printing platesand negatives, layingout the work, checking it up at various stages inthe process, and for a great variety of other purposes.

Lari) In using line-up tables as heretofore con-- structed, it has beenfound that the degree of accuracy obtainable depends to a very substan-'tial extent upon the skill and eye of the workman, and that this fact isresponsible for a large percentage of the errors made. The present in-Ivention therefore aims to improve apparatus of this character with aview to making it useful in a wider range of work and more especiallywith the object of minimizing the liability ofrnaking mistakes orerrors. In other words,,the invention aims to devise a line-up table inwhich much of the necessity for a sharp eye and great skill on the partof the workman will be avoided, the machine itself contributing to theproduction of accurate results to a degree which has not been obtainedheretofore.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from thefollowing description when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view of the table shown in Fig.1;

of a table embodying shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and illustrates also one ofthe straight edges and its carriage;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a stop for one of thestraight edges;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of parts of the table 1929, Serial No.397,679

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a guiding device attached to a carriagewhich carries the straight edge;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the guiding device illustrated inFig. 5 in its relationship to adjacent parts of the table;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the straight edge and the carriage associatedwith it; i Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view-of thestraight edge and carriage shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side view of the straight edge andcarriage in an elevated ortipped position;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a portion of the carriage showing partsof the mechanism for adjusting the straight edge; and

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view at right angles to Fig. 10. f

The table shown in the drawings comprises a top 2 and a frame 3 in whichsaid top is mounted. Usually the top is made of plate glass and it issupported at its margin on bars 4, Fig. 2, grooved to let the edge ofthe glass into them, finish strips 5 overlying the margin of the glassand being screwed to the bars 4 to hold them in place.

The talble frame 3 carries tracks, preferably consisting of toothedracks, on which the two straight edges are mounted; Referring toFig. 1it will be seen that two of these racks '7-7 run lengthwise of the tableat opposite sides of the top 2 and two other racks 88 are similarlylocated at opposite ends of the table. The first pair of racks support acarriage, indicated in gen-' eralat A, and carrying a straight edge a,while the second pair support a carriage B which car ries a straightedge I). The tracks extend considerably beyond the edges of the table sothat each straight edgecan be-moved far enough away from the edge of thetable top to be outof the way of the other straight edge. Scales9-9extend longitudinally of the table beside the racks 95 77 whilecorresponding scales 1010 extend across the endsof the table, and thesescales cooperate with the respective straight edges to indicate theirpositions on the table.

The construction of the carriages and the mounting of the straight edgeson them form important features of this invention. Since the twocarriages are of'substantially identical construction a description ofone of them only is necesv sary. Preliminary tosuch a description,however, it may be pointed out that a common use of this table requiresthe placing of a printing plate, negative, printed sheet or other pieceof work in a fixed position on the table top, this H position beingdetermined, for example, by suitno able gages such as that shown in Fig.1 at 12 and work clamps, one of which is shown at 13, these gages andclamps being of the type commonly used in apparatus of this kind. Thestraight edges are then moved over the work and a registration mark,usually in the form of a cross, is made on the work W. The nature of thework may be such, as for example in multi-color printing, that the samemark must be made at the same point on another negative, plate, or thelike, or the position of the mark made on one plate must be comparedwith that on another. so that the exact positions of the straight edgeson the scales at the time the registration marks are made becomes animportant factor.

This invention provides a construction with which such positions can bedetermined with a higher degree of accuracy than has been obtainableheretofore. Referring more particularly to Figs. 3, 7 and 8, it will beseen that the carriage A includes two gears or pinions 1515 which meshwith and run on the respective racks 7-7 and support the main body ofthe carriage. These gears are partly housed in end castings 1616 whichare rigidly connected by a tube or sleeve 17, the castings having splitclamps to bind them to the ends of the tube. These castings also areprovided with bearings for supporting a shaft 18 which extends throughthe tube 17 and is rigidly secured to the two gears 15-15. Each gear isheld on the rack by a guide piece 20, Figs. 3, 5 and 6, which is securedto the bearing for its respective end of the shaft 18 and is providedwith an extension or shoe 21 which lies under the turned over edge 22,.Fig. 6, of the stationary frame piece 23. A plate 24 which is secured tothe shoe 21 by spacing studs overlies. the part 22, as clearly shown inFig. 6, and this plate has a downturned lug 25 to engage the outer sideof the guide piece23. H

These devices hold the two gears in mesh with the racks or, in otherwords, prevent them from being moved upwardly away from the racks. Asthe carriage is moved forward or backward the guiding pieces 20, 21, 24slide along the stationary member 23, remaining constantly in engagementwith the horizontal flange 22 of this member.

"In moving the straight edge into or out of operative relationship tothe work, it is often de-- sirable to hold it in an elevated position.'Forthis purpose a rod 26 is mounted to rock in bearings 2727, Fig. '7,provided in the end castings 16'16, and cams 2828 are secured on theends of this rod. When these cams are down, as shown in Fig. 3, thestraight edge is in its lowermost position. If the handle of one of thecams is lifted slightly so that a short rise of the cam engages theplate 2%, the straight edge a then will be held slightly above itslowermost position. By turning the cam into the position shown in Fig. 9the straight edge is elevated a very considerable distance, asillustrated in said figure. A guard 30 is riveted to each cam 28 and hasa cam slot 31 therein through which a horizontal lug 32, integral withthe plate 24, projects.

This lug cooperates with the cam slot in holding the'straight edge inany position to which it'is moved and prevents over-swinging of thecarriage away from the table top.

The carriage may be locked against movement however, to lock thecarriage in certain definite 1 and lock the carriage against anymovement longitudinally of the racks. In the particular machine showneach of the racks 7-7 has a quarter inch pitch and the dogs 34 have thesame pitch so that the carriage can be locked to the rack at quarterinch intervals.

In order to make very fine adjustments it is desirable to be able tomove the straight edge a more gradually than can be done through themovement of the carriage itself. That is, a rough'adjustment of thestraight edge can be made by moving the carriage; and in prior machinesthe entire adjustment of the straight edge relatively to the work hasbeen produced in this manner. The present machine, however, includesprovision for making a micrometer adjustment of the straight edgerelatively to the carriage and the work. It will be seen from aninspection of Figs. 7, 8 and 10 that the straight edge a consists of arelatively wide flat plate with a graduated bar 36 secured to it. Twobrackets 37-3'7 are clamped securely upon the tube 17 and carry forkedextensions or guide bars 3838' which project forward and lie just abovethe straight edge a. Gibs 39 secured rigidly to the straight edgeoverlap the opposite edges of these guide pieces, as best shown in Fig.11, and thus hold the-straightedge to the parts 38 while per-' mittingit to slide backward or forward relatively to said partsl Between eachadjacent pair of guides-38 is a short rack 40which also is securedrigidly to the straight edge. Pinions 4=1l1 mesh, respectively, withthese racks, both of these pinions being secured fast on the oppositeends of a horizontal shaft 42 which is supported partly by the brackets37-37 and partly by a third bracket43 secured to the tube 1'7 at a pointbetween the first two brackets. A worm wheel 44, Figs. '7 and 8, issecured on the shaft 42 and is arranged to be revolved by a worm l5 faston a vertical shaft which is supported in the bracket 43 and which has aknob or handle 46 secured to its upper end. A graduated disk 47 issecured to the knob 46 to rotate with it and cooperates with astationary pointer 48 to indicate the degree of rotation of the knob andits shaft.

It will be clear that when the knob or handle 46 is turned, theconnections above described serve to move the straight edge a backwardor forward relatively to the carriage. the dial 47 is graduated both inthousandthsand also fractions of an inch so that this arrangementpermits an operator to make a micrometer adjustment of the straight edgerelatively to the carriage and to'the scales cooperating therewith, andto read the extent of the degree of this adjustment.

As above stated, in this particular machine the racks 77 have a quarterinch pitch so that the carriage may be locked at quarter inch intervalsfifty thousandths of a'n'inch, or, in other words, I.

Preferably i from one locked position of the straight'edge to the nextadjacent position in which it can be locked. In using this apparatus,therefore, the workman can make a rough adjustment of the straight edgeby moving the carriage across the work, then look the carriage in itsadjusted position and thereafter make a micrometer adjustment of thestraight edge relatively to the work. The exact position of the straightedge when the adjustment has been completed can also be de termined toth'ousandths of an inch by noting on the scale the position in which thecarriage has been locked and reading on the dial the degree of themicrometer adjustment. Measuring points or plates -50, Fig. 7, are fixedon the carriage at opposite ends of the straight edge a where they willoverlie the respective scales cooperating with this carriage, and theythus facilitate the reading of the position of the carriage on thescales. These measuring points and the straight edge are so adjustedrelatively to each other that the forward edge of the straight edge isin alinement with the forward edges of the measuring plates 50 when thedial 47 is in its zero position with the straight edge in approximatelythe middle of its range of movement. From this point the straight edgemay be adjusted two hundred fifty thusandths of an inch in eitherdirection by turning the knob 46.

The graduated bar 36 carried by the straight edge a is designed tosupport a marking device which will occupy a definite and constantrelationship to the straight edge and for this purpose it is grooved, asshown at 51,'Figs.-8 and 19.

j A marking device such as that shown in the West Patent No. 1,623,291,granted April 5, 1927, is suitable for use in the machine, althoughother forms of marking devices also can be used. 7

As above stated, the carriage B and its straight edge b aresubstantially identical in construction and arrangement with thecarriage A and straight edge a, and they cooperate with their tracks 8-8and with adjacent parts of the table in the same manner as do thecarriage A and its straight edge.

When the carriage A is moved away from the table top far enough topermit the other carriage to be moved across the table, the tube 17engages a stop 52, Fig. 4, which is secured to 1 the frame and serves toprevent the movement of the carriage off its racks.

A similar stop cooperates with the carriage B.

In using this table it is desirable to position the straight edge incontact with, or closely adjacent to the work, and in order to enablethe apparatus to accommodate plates, negatives and other articles ofwork varying substantially in thickness,

provision has been made for adjusting the table top vertically toward orfrom the paths of travel of the straight edges. The mechanism providedfor this purpose is best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It comprises a seriesof upright posts or sleeves 54 arranged immediately under and supportingthe bars 4 on which the glass top 2 is mounted. A similar post or sleeve54 is located under approximately the center of the table top andsupports this part of the table through a head 55 and a pad 56 ofleather, felt or other yielding material. The sleeves 5e and 54 aremounted to slide vertically in brackets 57, Fig. 2, rigid with the frame3. Mounted in vertical alinement with the sleeves 545 i are a series ofupright screws 58, each threaded into its respective sleeve. Each ofthese screws forms a part of an upright shaft guided in one of thebrackets 5'7 and held by thrust collars 59 against axial movement.At'its lower end each of these screws or screw threaded shafts carries abevel gear 60 meshing with additional' bevel gears secured on horizontalshafts which are all drivenfrom a single shaft62. From an inspection ofFigs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the shaft 62 extends horizontallyacross one end of the'frame 3 and isgeared to the two side shafts 63 and64, .the former of these shafts being also geared to a cross shaft 65which drives the screw 58 for the center sleeve 54, while the othershaft 64 is geared to the end shaft 66. The main or driving shaft 62 hasa squared end 6'7 projecting through the frame of the machine at oneside thereof and adapted to receive a crank by means of which all of thescrews 58 can be revolved in unison to raise or lower the table top.

It will be observed that this construction c0m .pels all of thesupporting sleeves 54 and 54' to move up or down at the same time and tothe same extent, and that it definitely holds the table in any adjustedposition. Consequently, the top of the table is always maintained levelin any position to which it is moved, and any possibility of the topslipping is avoided.

It will be clear to those skilled in this art that the line-up tableprovided by this invention enables an operator to work to anexceptionally high degree of accuracy. The fact that he can bring eitherstraight edge to a definite position with reference to the scales andthe work by looking either carriage at a definite point on the scalesand then adjusting the straight edge through the micrometer mechanismisvan extremely important advantage in a great variety of work, as forexample, in duplicating or repro-.

ducing. lhe fact, also, that in making such adjustments the operator isnot depending simply on his eye but can rely largely on the manipulationof the machine is also an important advantage. That is, the locking ofthe carriage in a definite relationship to the scale is not dependentfor its accuracy on the eye of the operator, but it is determined by theengagement of the locking dogs with the rack, the operator simply beingcalled upon to determine at which quarter inch point on thescale he willlock the carriage. If. his work calls for the adjustment of the straightedge to one hundred twenty thousandths of an inch, plus or minus, withreference to the .particular quarter inch mark at which the carriage islocked, he can then make that adjustment through the micrometermechanism, and such adjustment obviously does not require anysubstantial degree of skill.

The table therefore will handle the entire range of work which hascustomarily been performed on tables of this general character, and inaddition it will afford a degree of accuracy which has not beenobtainable heretofore. It will also accommodate an exceptionally widevariety of work because of such increased accuracy and the adjustabilityof the table top.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied inother forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. A table of the character described comprising, in combination, atable top, a carriage mounted for movement across the top of said table,a straight edge carried by said carriage, a handle, worm and gearmechanism on said carriage arranged to be operated by said handle foradjusting said straight edge relatively to said carriage in a directiontransversely to itself, and a dial cooperating with said adjustingmechanism to indicate the degree of adjustment.

2. A'table of the character described comprising, in combination, atable top, a frame in which said table top is supported, racks mountedon said frame at opposite sides of said table top, a carriage havinggears meshing with said racks and supporting the main body of thecarriage for movement across the top of the table, dogs on the carriagefor'engaging the teeth of said racks and locking the carriage againstmovement on the racks, a straight edge supported on said carriageformovement therewith, and micrometer mechanism for adjusting saidstraight edge relatively to said carriage to any point'between adjacentpositions of adjustment of said carriage on said racks.

1 3. A table of the character describedcomprising, in combination, atable top, aframe' in which said table top is supported, racks mountedon said frame at opposite sides of said table top, a carriage havinggears meshing with said racks and supporting the main body of thecarriage for movement across thetop of the table, a straight edgesupported by said carriage for movement therewith, a scale cooperatingwith said straight edge to indicate its position, adjusting mechanismarranged to act on said straight edge at widely separated points toadjust it relatively to said carriage, and means independent of saidscale for indicating the degree of said adjustment. J 4. A table of thecharacter described comprising, in combination, a table top,'a frame inwhich said table top is supported, racks mounted on said frame atopposite sides of said table top, a carriage having gears meshing withsaid racks and supporting the main body of the carriage for movementacross the top of the table, a straight edge mounted on said carriage toslide forward and backward relatively thereto and for movementtherewith, a shaft extending longitudinally of said carriage, meansoperable to turn said shaft, mechanism for utilizing the rotary movementof said shaft to act on said straight edge atwidely separated points tomove it forward or backward relatively to said carriage, and means forindicating the degree of said forward or backward movement.

5. A table of the character described comprising, in combination, atable top, a frame in which said table top is supported, racks mountedon said frame at opposite sides of said table top, a carriage havinggears meshing with said racks and supporting the main body of thecarriage for movement across the top of the table, a straight edgemounted on said carriage to slide forward and backward relativelythereto and for movement therewith, a shaft extending longitudinally ofsaid carriage, pinions carried by said shaft, racks rigid with saidstraight edge and meshing with said pinions, a worm wheel on said shaft,a Worm meshing with said worm wheel, a handle for revolving said worm,and a dial for indicating the degree of rotation of said worm.

6. A table of the character described comprising, in combination, atable top, a carriage mounted'to roll backward and forward across thetop of said table, a straight edge carried by said carriage, andmechanisin'for acting on said straight edge at widely separated pointsto adjust said straight edge bodily relatively to said carriage intodifferent positions all parallel to each other and to hold said straightedge positively in itsadjus'ted positions.

7. A table of the character described comprising, in combination, atable top, a carriage mounted for movement acrcss'the top of said table,a straight edge carried by said carriage, and micrometer adjusting meansmounted on said carriage and arranged to act on said straight edge atwidely separated points to adjust said straight edge relatively to saidcarriage in a direction transversely of said straight edge and intodifferent positions all parallel to each other.

8. Atable of the character described comprising, in combination, a tabletop, a carriage mounted for movement across the top of said table, astraight edge carried by said carriage, a scale mounted on the table andcooperating with said straight edge to indicate the position of saidstraight edge on the table, means for locking said carriage in variouspositions of adjustmentlongitudinally of said scale, and micrometeradjusting means operable while the carriage is held so locked for actingon said straight edge at widely'separated points to adjust said straightedge longitudinally of said scale.

9. A table of the character described comprising, in combination, atable top, a carriage mounted to roll forward and backward across thetop of said table,-a straight edge mounted on said carriage for movementtherewith, a stationary scale for indicating the position of saidstraight edge, means for locking said carriage in various positions ofadjustment longitudinally of the scale, and micrometer adjustingmechanism mounted on said carriage and operable While the carriage isheld so locked for acting on said straight edge at widely separatedpoints to adjust said straight edge positively in a directionlongitudinally of said scale and for holding said straight edgepositively in its various positions of adjustment.

JOSEPH A. SLOBEY.

